Zebra Technologies Corporation

Symbol Technologies, LLC

Yuri Astvatsaturov

Darran Michael Handshaw

Edward D Barkan

Mark E Drzymala

Christopher Warren Brock

Patrick Mauro

Thomas E Wulff

Justin F Barish

Robert Sanders

Christopher J Fjellstad

Seth David Silk

Raymond Terry Durham

Machine vision devices and systems with automatically switchable direct and diffused illumination are provided herein. An example includes a machine vision system, comprising an image capture device, a material with switchable optical properties, wherein the material with switchable optical properties has a transparent state and a translucent state, and a light source, wherein the light source is positioned to illuminate a target of the image capture device, and the material with switchable optical properties is positioned between the light source and the target of the image capture device and configured to switch between the transparent state which is configured to provide direct illumination of the target and the translucent state which is configured to provide diffused illumination of the target.

Machine vision device with switchable direct and diffused illumination

Imaging devices, systems, and methods for capturing image data for an object appearing in a field of view (FOV) are described herein. An example device includes: an imaging assembly; an aiming assembly; and a computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that cause the imaging device to: (i) initiate a first aiming state responsive to receiving an indication of a trigger event; (ii) capture the image data of the object appearing in the FOV while operating in the first aiming state; (iii) transition from the first aiming state to a second aiming state responsive to a successful decode event associated with the indicia, wherein the light source is to emit light in the second aiming state such that an observable appearance is different in the second aiming state than in the first aiming state; and (iv) otherwise refrain from transitioning from the first aiming state to the second aiming state.

Systems and methods for changing an aimer blink pattern responsive to a decode event

At least some embodiments described herein are directed to a machine vision method, which involves capturing both a two-dimensional (2D) image of an object to identify a barcode and determine 3D features, and a three-dimensional (3D) image of the environment. The 3D image data is examined for the presence of the 3D object features. If a feature is missing, a digital fault detection signal is provided. If a feature is present, at least one parameter of the machine vision system is adjusted. The method also includes decoding the barcode and determining the object's orientation based on the barcode location in the 2D image.

Barcode readers with 3D camera(s)

Imaging systems for imaging or scanning objects by redirecting portions of a field of view (FOV) are described herein. An example imaging system includes: an imaging assembly; a platter including a redirection element; and a computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that cause the imaging system to: capture the image data in the FOV, wherein a first subset of pixels captures a first subset of the image data associated with a first portion of the FOV not redirected by the redirection element, and a second subset of pixels captures a second subset of the image data associated with a redirected portion of the FOV redirected by the redirection element; process the first subset of image data via a first module to perform a first vision operation; and process the second subset of image data via a second module to perform a second vision operation.

Bi-optic indicia readers and platters for use therewith having optical redirection element(s) within the platter

An example method of detecting device malfunctions at a subject device includes: obtaining a device event indicator representing an event detected at a device sensor of the subject device; obtaining an external event indicator representing an external event detected by an environmental sensor, the external event occurring external to the subject device; and identifying a device malfunction at the subject device based on the device event indicator and the external event indicator.

Method, system and apparatus for detecting device malfunctions

Systems and methods for detecting medically related events at a point of sale are disclosed herein. An example method of detecting droplets associated with a sneeze or cough at a point of sale includes: capturing, by an image sensor associated with a checkout workstation, one or more images; analyzing, by one or more processors, the images captured by the image sensor associated with the checkout workstation, to detect an indication that one or more droplets associated with a sneeze or cough are present upon one or more equipment associated with the checkout workstation; and triggering, by the one or more processors, a disinfection of the checkout workstation responsive to detecting the indication that the one or more droplets associated with the sneeze or cough are present upon the one or more equipment associated with the checkout workstation.

Detection of medically related events at a point of sale

Techniques for weight checking for verification of ticket switching are disclosed herein. An example system includes: a weighing scale; cameras configured to capture images of items passing through a product scanning region and images of barcodes affixed to the items; a processor; and a memory storing instructions that cause the one or more processors to determine a first identification of an item based on the image of the barcode; determine a second identification of the item based on the image of the item; compare the first identification to the second identification to determine whether the two identifications match; based on determining that the two identifications do not match, generate a request for the user to place the item on the weighing scale; determine that the weight of the item does not match a first weight associated with the first identification of the item; and trigger one or more mitigation actions.

Weight check for verification of ticket switching

Systems and methods for assessing trailer utilization are disclosed herein. The method generates a trailer interior map and captures an image of the trailer interior. The map includes first voxels associated with the trailer interior and the image includes a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) image data points. The method generates a 3D map of an object based on a set of 3D points indicative of respective 3D image data points corresponding to respective first voxels and determines whether the object is non-conforming. The method determines at least one of second voxels associated with unusable space proximate to a non-conforming object, third voxels associated with the non-conforming object, and fourth voxels associated with a conforming object. The method determines an occupied portion of the trailer based on the first voxels, third voxels, and fourth voxels and trailer utilization based on the occupied portion of the trailer, the first voxels, and the second voxels.

Systems and methods for assessing trailer utilization

Methods and systems include using three-dimensional imaging apparatuses to capture three-dimensional images and analyze resulting three-dimensional image data to enhance captured two-dimensional images for scanning related processes such as object identification, symbology detection, object recognition model training, and identifying improper scan attempts or other actions performed by an operator. Imaging systems such as bi-optic readers, handheld scanners, and machine vision systems are described using three-dimensional imaging apparatuses and described capturing three-dimensional images and using with captured two-dimensional images.

Methods and apparatus for providing out-of-range indications are disclosed. An example imaging reader includes an image sensor and an optical assembly. The imaging reader may include a distance determining module configured to determine a distance to a target. The imaging reader may include an indication determining module configured to determine an out-of-range indication when the distance satisfies a first condition. An indicator may be included and configured to present the out-of-range indication. The image sensor may be configured to capture a representation of an image of the target when the distance satisfies a second condition. The imaging reader may include an indicia decoder configured to decode an indicia in the representation to determine an indicia payload and/or a communication interface to convey the indicia payload to a host system.

Methods and apparatus for providing out-of-range indications for imaging readers

Example methods and apparatuses to indicate off-platter weigh conditions are disclosed herein. An example barcode reading and weighing apparatus includes a weigh platter; a scale; an off-platter detection assembly configured to detect an off-platter weigh condition; a processor in communication with the scale and the off-platter detection assembly; and a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the barcode reading and weighing apparatus to, responsive to detecting the off platter condition: compose a weight-conveying message, the weight-conveying message including (i) a weight-conveying field having the weight encoded therein and (ii) overhead information, the overhead information being operative, when the weight-conveying message is received by a POS system, to cause the POS system to not accept the weight for the transaction, the overhead information also not indicating the off-platter weigh condition to the POS system; and send the weight-conveying message to the POS system.

Methods and apparatuses to indicate off-platter weigh conditions

At least some embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of product scanning systems and arrangements used within a retail venue. In an embodiment, the present invention is a data capture system that includes a scanner pod housing a plurality of scanners, each configured to capture product data; a data capture module communicatively coupled to the scanner pod, the first data capture module configured to capture, via a mobile device associated with a customer, customer data; and a server communicatively coupled to at least one of the scanner pod and the first data capture module, the server being configured to, upon the first data capture module capturing the customer data associated with the customer, associate one of the plurality of scanners with at least one of the customer and the customer data associated with the customer, resulting in an associated data capture device.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Forest, IL, United States of America

Yuri Astvatsaturov